The Scottish War Graves Project

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

I've just visited Sorbie's two cemeteries and one headstone has led me to raise this query. I will be uploading the full set of Sorbie photos to the relevant threads but I'd appreciate advice on this one. It concerns a William True (as stated on the family headstone) or Trew as recorded on CWGC.

The CWGC version is:

Name: TREW, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Able Seaman
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Vanguard
Age: 20
Date of Death: 9th July 1917
Service Number: Clyde Z/5610
Additional information: Son of John and Margaret Trew, of Dinnans, Whithorn, Wigtownshire.
Panel Reference: 28
Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial

The Galloway Gazette (21 July 1917) reported: Accidentally killed on the 9th inst on board HMS Vanguard, William Trew AB RNVR, fourth son of John Trew, Dinnans, Whithorn, aged 20.

However, as you can see from the photo the headstone reads: Erected by John True in memory of his daughter Jessie Owen True died at Orchardton 14th March 1899 aged 5. Also William True, AB, killed 9th July 1917 on HMS Vanguard aged 21 years.

Can someone help throw some light on this one, please.

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

I think possibly the only way to verify his surname would be to download a copy of his birth certificate.

The details supplied to CWGC from his next of kin could easily have been mis-transcribed when their records were computerised.

The newspaper report may have presumed the spelling to be Trew rather than True.

Or ..... the various monumental masons adding names to the stones over the years may have just copied the name from the first person to be buried there.

I would go with whatever is on his birth certificate.

Anne

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Mike - all records (military and civil) have TREW.
He was born in 1897 in Sorbie.
Oddly his service record has DoB as 5 January 1887 but this may be a typo/scanning error.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7676594

I think Anne is right (she usually is Laughing

) about the name being inscribed in error (by "sound"?)

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

On Scotland's People Index, he is TREW.

By using 'exact spelling' and entering TRUE - no results.

By using 'exact spelling' and entering TREW - one result.

Born at Sorbie (as Ken said) in 1897 (GROS 897/00 0004)

I don't have enough credits to download the actual image, but I think in this case, although the name is indexed as Trew, to satisfy my curiosity, I would want to have a look at the image.

He appears on the 1901 Census (Ancestry transcription) as True, but this only confirms his parents, siblings, where he was born and where the family were living at that time, it doesn't verify the spelling.

The address on the transcription is 'Low Arrow Cot-house'?

The family may well have used both spellings at various times.

Anne

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

Another snippet:

His parents married in 1884 at Whithorn

John Trew and Margaret Fulton. (S.P. Index again)

So ..... looks like the monumental mason(s) got it wrong - more than just the once!

Anne Laughing

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Thanks Anne and Ken. Could he also be the William True that appears on Whithorn War Memorial?

Confused

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

The first death on the stone is a daughter "Jessie Owen True".
The death was registered as Jessie Owen TREW (indexed by SP as FREW)
aged 5 on 23 March 1899 at Orchardton, Sorbie. The father is shown as John Trew, a Ploughman, and the mother as Margaret Trew ms Fulton.
The father registered the death and his signature could be Trew, True or even Frew but on balance looks like TREW.
The unfortunate child died from shock the result of sever burning - 2 days.

Margaret Fulton TREW's death was registered in 1935 in Whithorn.

It does look as though the grave stone name is "wrong"

Ken

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Thanks Anne, Ken & Jim. I think it's safe to go ahead with Trew but noting the alternative spelling on the headstone. It's one I'll keep an eye on in case further evidence appears.

Mike